Vodafone to start rolling out 4G services from Monday

Vodafone Ireland have confirmed that they are to start rolling out a 4G broadband service from Monday, October 14 and are to start offering 4G smartphone services by Christmas.

For €29.99 per month, customers will get a 20GB data allowance and promises of up to ten times 3G speeds or up to 75Mbs. We were invited by Vodafone to their initial demonstration of the 4G network some time ago and came away impressed. Even though the demo was in ideal conditions, users should see noticeable increases in the speeds they are experiencing currently.

The service is initially being rolled out in the following locations:

Cities: Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Galway, Waterford and Kilkenny.

Other locations in the South East and South West of the country: Carlow, Tralee, Wexford, Midleton, Ballincollig, Mallow, Cobh, Killarney, Enniscorthy, Dungarvan, New Ross, Carrigtohill, Macroom, Mitchelstown, Bantry, Blarney, Kanturk, Bagnelstown, Thomastown, Kenmare, Bunclody, Newmarket, Dunmanway, Lismore and Rosslare Harbour.

That’s a substantially greater geographical area than what the Eircom group are currently covering but it is a shame we won’t see smartphone offerings on the Vodafone network until Christmas.

Currently your only choice of devices with Vodafone are the K5008Z dongle, R212 Mobile WiFi Hotspot and Sony Xperia Z tablet.